Spring has Sprung!

Finally, it appears that Spring has sprung! The deciduous trees have a slight green tinge at the tops, and bulbs are up and blooming. The grass is greener. The birds are starting to build nests. The fish are moving around in my ponds. Yes, I think that Spring has arrived here in Northern Virginia!

Over the weekend, I saw a few frogs basking in the 70 degree sunshine. Below is the “master” frog who lives in one of my backyard ponds. It’s funny how the frogs just know that I’m not going to hurt them and watch me without moving. This one seemed to be oblivious to my presence as I was removing the pond mesh from the ponds.

If you have an outdoor pond, you might want to refer to my earlier posting about How to Ready a Pond for Spring.

It’s quite amazing how the landscape has “greened” in just the few days that we have experience warmer weather. My gorgeous deep pink Cherokee Brave dogwood which was moved from the shady backyard last Spring, is now in full bloom. It wasn’t getting enough sun under the tree canopy. Two other Cherokee Brave dogwoods will be moved in the next few weeks to the front yard where it’s far more sunny. They have no blooms this year in the shady backyard. Be careful when your garden center personnel tell you that an understory tree such as a dogwood will take “large canopy tree shade.” The understory tree may grow, but it might not flower without much sunlight.

And here’s a close-up of this gorgeous Cherokee Brave dogwood bloom!

I just love surprises. Found this little violet that is happily growing in between the stones and bricks in one of my patios.

One of the first azaleas to bloom in my landscape is a lavender colored one. It’s also deciduous which means it loses its leaves in the winter. I always know that Spring has arrived when this azalea blooms.

My front bed has been taken over by some lovely deep green vinca. The vinca has gorgeous lavender-colored flowers which offset its green leaves. The daffodils in my front bed are flowering well this year.

One of my favorite woodsy ground covers is the may apple. The may apples have very large leaves that might appear as intimidating plants in the Alice in Wonderland story or other childhood fable. I love them. The may apples have large white blooms underneath their leaves on the stems. The flowers will fade into a green fruit that gives the may apple its name!

Has Spring Sprung in your garden? Leave me a comment and let me know what’s blooming at your home.